Gateshead International Jazz Festival returns to Sage Gateshead with a star studded line-up this week.

The popular event, now in its 12th year, will see thousands of jazz, funk, soul and RnB fans gather for a weekend of top class music from multi-award-winning artists from the UK, Europe and the States.

Topping the festival bill is Gregory Porter on the Friday evening, followed by Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman and the Terence Blanchard E-Collective on Saturday night and ending with Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires on the Sunday evening.

The festival attracts visitors from across the world and it guarantees to be a jam-packed weekend, but if you’ve never been before here’s everything you need to know.

What is the Gateshead International Jazz Festival?

The festival, the UK’s biggest held under one roof, is an annual three-day event held at Sage Gateshead which brings the best of the UK, European and International jazz scene, hotly-tipped emerging talent and exciting cross genre artists to the region.

When will it take place?

The Gateshead International Jazz Festival will take place between Friday, April 15 – Sunday April 17

Where will it take place?

Who is headlining the festival?

The festival will welcome GRAMMY award-winning singer Gregory Porter to the stage after his sell out show last year to open this year’s festival.

Saturday night’s stellar double bill opens with leading British saxophonist and festival favourite Courtney Pine with fellow Mercury nominee and MOBO award winning pianist, Zoe Rahman who play the music from their acclaimed album Song (The Ballad Book). Headlining Sunday night is American soul maestro Charles Bradley.

World jazz is covered by the eclectic sound of French trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf and up and coming New York based pianist Kris Bowers whose music combines jazz with hip hop, RnB, electronic, rock and all points in between.

The festival also welcomes Phil Meadows, one of the most creative young musicians to emerge from UK jazz in recent years, who brings together the repertoire of his acclaimed Engines Orchestra in an exciting one-off performance with Royal Northern Sinfonia and the North East’s rising youth jazz stars – Sage Gateshead’s regional youth jazz ensemble, Jambone.

What else is on during the festival?

There is a lot of other things to keep festival goers entertained at the 12th Gateshead International Jazz Festival with free music on the concourse, musical workshops including jazz for toddlers, and a Philosophy of Improvisation workshop, family fun, talks, late night club and much more.

Where can I get tickets for the Jazz Festival?

To book tickets, visit the box office, www.sagegateshead.com or call 0191 443 4661. For full line up details, visit www.sagegateshead.com/gijf . Sage Gateshead are also offering a jazz multibuy on tickets for the festival, so if you buy tickets for two or more concerts you can save money. Book two concerts and save £2 per ticket; book three concerts and save £3 per ticket; and book four concerts or more and save £4 per ticket.